Orangeburg, South Carolina, known as "The Garden City," is located between the capitol city of Columbia and the port city of Charleston, and is just a short drive away from Charlotte, Atlanta, Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head. It is the center of a regional market called the "Global Triangle" because of its proximity to I-26, I-95, I-77 and I-20. The natural beauty of the area, mixed with gently rolling terrain, presents an ideal setting for the beautiful homes and residential areas located in and around the city, which has helped Orangeburg become well known for its charm and southern living.

Orangeburg Consolidated School District Five, the largest of three public school districts in Orangeburg County, serves approximately 7,000 students living in the city of Orangeburg and the communities of Bowman and North. The district is also in very close proximity to three institutions of higher learning (South Carolina State University, Claflin University, and Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College) all of which the district has numerous partnerships that enhance the educational opportunities of its students and enhances the professional development of its faculty and staff.

District schools, students and faculty earn a potpourri of awards annually, including the 32 Palmetto Gold and Silver Awards won by our schools since the program began, a Blue Ribbon Lighthouse school winner (The Technology Center), a school honored twice by U.S. News and World Report as one of the best high schools in the nation and was also named a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence (Bethune-Bowman High), 67 Palmetto Fellows qualifiers (minimum 1200 SAT score and 3.5 GPA) since the program began, the 111 junior scholars and 22 Duke TIP students over the past few years, the $50 million-plus in scholarships awarded to district students over the past few years, and the potpourri of international, national and state awards art students from the district have earned over the past few years, and many other awards and recognitions.

OCSD5 is comprised of three high schools, a Technology Center, three middle schools and eight elementary schools. We are very proud of the fact that approximately 75 percent of our students pursue post-secondary education at colleges and universities across the United States, with academic and athletic scholarships totaling several million dollars each year. This is why we can say with total confidence "if a child is willing to work hard and their parents are willing to encourage and push them, a student in Orangeburg Consolidated School District Five can get the best education available anywhere."

Each and every student in Orangeburg Consolidated School District Five is important to us because, after all, children are always the most important resources in any school district, and indeed, in any community. Here in Orangeburg Consolidated Five, we have designed programs to meet the needs of each and every student, enhance their ability to learn, and challenge their creativity.